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What Is Personal Security?
Personal Security involves taking steps to keep yourself safe, and
protecting yourself from situations that are potentially violent or
criminal. Personal Security is important because property can be
replaced, but you are irreplaceable.
Like other methods of crime prevention, personal security involves
recognizing, anticipating, and assessing the risk of a crime occurring.
In other words, what situations are potentially threatening to you and
likely to put you in peril? Once you have identified a risk, you can
take steps to remove or reduce it. Being aware and informed is important
to preventing crimes from occurring, which is why the Niagara Regional
Police Service offers the following safety tips.
What Can I Do To Stay Safe?
The following tips can aid you in securing yourself from potential
threats:
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings
- if you feel
uncomfortable about an area, avoid it. Avoid areas that are
potentially dangerous, or that will limit your ability to get away
from trouble, or acquire assistance if problems present themselves.
Walk Assertively - by using assertive body language as
you walk, you won't appear to be easily intimidated or vulnerable.
Many criminals pick potential victims at random, choosing those who
appear to be easy prey. If you appear self-assured, there is less
chance that someone will pick you as their next victim.
Walk Where There's Light - darkness is an ally to
criminals, so stay in areas that are well lit. Avoid dark doorways and
corridors, or areas that are hidden (such as by shrubs or other
barriers). If people can see you, there is a greater chance that help
will come if there's trouble.
There's Safety in Numbers - a single person is more
easily overpowered, so try walking with another person or with a
group. By walking with a companion, you will be a less vulnerable
target.
Don't Make Elevators a Trap - elevators may enclose
you, but don't allow them to become a trap. Travel an elevator with a
companion or group, so that you won't be alone with someone who may
harm you. Stand close to the door where the controls are, so that you
can press an alarm button or get off at the next floor when needed.
Stand with your back to the wall so that you can watch others, and
avoid being attacked from behind.
Don't flash around large amounts of cash
- people who don’t follow this advice can make tempting targets to
muggers and pickpockets.
Too Many People May Cause Additional Problems -
crowds present their own dangers, and can offer an opportunity for a
culprit to commit a crime. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers can often
be found in larger groups of people. Don’t dangle a purse from your
shoulder, as someone can snatch it easily. Hold your purse tightly
under your arm, and make sure it’s zipped up or secured shut. If
someone does grab it, let go ... you don't want to be injured as it’s
pulled away from you. Men, and women who don’t carry purses, should
carry money, credit cards, and/or cheques in their front pockets. To
really play it safe, don’t carry everything in the same place. If
you’re robbed, the thief will only get part of it; the cheques,
credit card, identification, or some other item … but not
everything!
Don't Advertise You Have Something to
Steal - when shopping, make several trips to your car so that
you’re not carrying large numbers of purchases. If you need to carry
expensive items (such as laptops or camcorders), carry them in a case
that doesn't advertise what's inside. A case labeled with the
manufacturer's name or type of device inside will inform thieves what
they can steal from you.
Don't Reveal Information About
Yourself - avoid giving out personal information over the
telephone or Internet. When someone calls, never say you're alone.
Avoid wearing clothing that reveals personal information. This
includes jackets or shirts with your name or place of work embroidered
on it, or that have other facts displayed for anyone to see.
Don't Escalate the Situation -
if someone makes a rude remark, gesture, or makes you nervous, avoid
conflict. It is best to ignore such a person, or try walking away from
them. By making a comment or gesture back to the person, you may
escalate the situation to a violent level. If you have a problem with
obscene phone callers, don't react to what they say. Hang up
immediately. If you have call display, document the number that the
person called from. If the problem persists, notify the telephone
company and report the incident to police.
Staying Secure at Work
Problems don't always occur on the street, or in areas you're
unfamiliar with. Sometimes, your place of employment is the location
where your personal security is in jeopardy. These tips can help you
avoid potentially threatening situations:
- Never Trust Your Identity to Another Person -
personal identification is generally kept in wallets or purses, so
don't leave these unattended. Don't leave them on your desk or in
the open. Someone could steal them, or obtain your home address and
other personal information from ID cards, driver's licence, or other
documentation. If you have a locker at work or a desk drawer that
can lock, then use them to protect your belongings.
- Be Careful with Keys - if something is locked, it
doesn't make sense to leave the key in the open. Don't leave keys to
lockers or desk drawers, or personal keys (to your car or home) in
plain sight. Don't put spare keys in an unlocked drawer or insecure
area. If the wrong person gets them, they can gain access to items
you wanted to remain secure. Acquiring your personal keys means that
a person can also enter your car and home.
- Be Wary of Strangers - if a person doesn't belong in
a particular area, find another person to join you in asking why the
person is there. This can be a security guard, or a fellow employee.
By challenging the person (such as by simply asking if the person is
lost or if you can help), an intruder will often be discouraged and
leave.
- Never Leave Yourself Completely Alone With Strangers -
you should never leave yourself vulnerable to a stranger. If you
don't know the customer or visitor, then you also don't know if
they're a threat. Try to stay in sight or within shouting distance
of a fellow employee. If you need to have a private meeting with a
customer or visitor, ensure that the door to the office is open or
that fellow employees can still see you.
Personal Security and
Transportation
Problems can occur when taking public transportation (such as the bus
or train) or when driving in your car. To avoid putting yourself at
risk, the following tips can help:
- Don’t Make it Easy for Someone to Enter Your Car
- lock the doors of your car, and make sure that the windows are
rolled all the way up. Many people will lock their doors after
leaving the car to protect their belongings, but fail to do so when
they're in the car. Keep your doors locked, and windows rolled up,
so that someone can't get into the car at an intersection, or when
you are parking or stopped for other reasons.
- If Your Car Breaks Down, Stay in the Car - breaking
down in a secluded or unpopulated area harbours potential threats.
If someone stops and asks if you need assistance, ask them to call
for help. Don't get out of the car, or accept a ride from the
stranger. Wait in the car until police arrive.
- When Taking the Bus, Sit Near the Driver - don't
sit at the back of a bus, as the driver won't be able to see you if
you experience problems with another passenger. Sit near the driver
so you can ask for assistance if needed. Don’t rely on the driver
noticing if you are having a problem, though. Speak up if you need
help.
- Don't Wait Alone - avoid waiting for buses in poorly
lit or isolated areas. Whenever possible, have a companion wait with
you until the bus arrives.
- Be Aware of the Location of Other People, Exits and Telephones -
you should be aware of how to get help or escape a threatening
situation. Taking note of where bus drivers, rest stop employees, or
other individuals are will allow you to call for their help if
needed. By knowing where an exit is located, you'll be able to get
out of a rest stop or bus terminal quickly. Knowing where a
telephone is located will enable you to call 911 in emergencies.
A printable version of this document is also available to view and
download. To find out more, click HERE
to visit the Just the
FAQs section of our Web site.
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